President Donald Trump employed his signature all-caps writing style to support Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli in the race for New Jersey governor on Monday—while also hurling his signature insults to denounce Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill.
Why It Matters
The 2025 New Jersey governor’s race has come under national scrutiny, partly due to its timing as one of only two gubernatorial elections in the country this year.
The race between Ciattarelli and Sherrill is considered a bellwether for the political climate ahead of the 2026 midterms. The contest also showcases sharp partisan divides on taxes, energy policy and abortion rights, reflective of broader national tensions between Republicans and Democrats.
Trump’s backing of Ciattarelli underscores the race’s high profile and potential impact on party strategy nationwide.
What To Know
In a post to his social media platform Truth Social on Monday evening, Trump said: “JACK CIATTARELLI IS A WINNER FOR NEW JERSEY! Mikie Sherrill is the exact opposite, a stone cold loser, who will drive your Energy costs through the roof, just like the Democrats are doing all over the Country but, even more so, because she has no understanding of what she is doing.
“Put simply, Jack Ciattarelli will bring your Energy costs down to a new low, and Mikie Sherrill will do the exact opposite — Energy costs under her will go up by levels never seen before. Mikie has no clue as to what she is doing. NEW JERSEY, VOTE FOR JACK CIATTARELLI — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
In a previous post, Trump wrote: “Jack Ciattarelli, the wonderful New Jersey Gubernatorial Candidate that is doing very well in the Polls against a very Fake and Corrupt Mikie Sherrill, will bring Energy prices down in New Jersey by record amounts. He calls me constantly, wanting assurances that I will use the Power of Common Sense on helping New Jersey with their Energy bills, which are going up by record amounts. Jack is a man who will bring costs and prices down, rapidly, but in particular, Energy costs, because he knows that everything else will follow.
“Mikie Sherrill, on the contrary, has Energy policies and concepts that will double and triple prices in New Jersey. Unlike Jack, there have been no calls to Washington saying, ‘What do we do with these rapidly rising Electric and other costs?’ I have brought Energy way down, with Gasoline soon to hit $2, with everything else following! If Mikie, who was essentially thrown out of her school for cheating, and wasn’t even allowed to walk through the Graduating Class, is ever involved with Government, Energy prices will soar at a record level! Unlike Jack Ciattarelli, nobody from her group is calling the White House in order to take advantage of the record drops in overall Energy costs,” Trump continued. “Jack Ciattarelli is a good man, who understands business, and who will bring down Energy, and other costs, by 50%, and even more. The unusually named Mikie, perhaps her only asset, will drive Energy costs up, like no Governor in History. She will be a DISASTER for New Jersey — VOTE JACK CIATTARELLI — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
A new Quinnipiac University poll released last week shows Sherrill leading Ciattarelli by 6 points, with 50 percent to Ciattarelli’s 44 percent among likely New Jersey voters. The poll, conducted from October 9 to October 13 among 1,327 likely voters and with a 3.6 percent margin of error, follows a trend of modest Democratic leads.
Online betting website Polymarket on Monday night shows Ciattarelli’s chances of winning the race at 17 percent versus Sherrill’s 84 percent. Sherrill has maintained a solid lead over Ciattarelli on the betting site.
What People Are Saying
Ciattarelli, on X over the weekend: “New Jersey is ready for change! That’s exactly what this team is going to deliver when we win on November 4! Team Jack is out today in all 21 counties reminding voters that this election is too important to sit out. Early in-person voting starts one week from today!”
Sherrill, on X earlier this month: “.@Jack4NJ has been running on cutting healthcare and pensions since the very first day he started trying to be governor nearly 10 years ago. As a career politician, he’s said a lot of things to a lot of people, but if there’s one thing he’s been consistent on, it’s his relentless attacks on working people.”
Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin, in a statement to Newsweek via email on Monday: “New Jerseyans are fed up with Donald Trump’s toxic agenda that is ripping away their health care, causing their utility bills to spike, and destroying jobs, all of which Jack Ciattarelli gave an ‘A’ grade. Meanwhile, on Day One, Mikie Sherrill will declare a State of Emergency on Utility Costs, end the utility rate hikes, and massively expand cheaper and cleaner power generation to build an energy arsenal in New Jersey. Lowering costs is Mikie’s top priority and why she’ll win in November.”
What Happens Next
The New Jersey gubernatorial election will take place on November 4. Both Sherrill and Ciattarelli are expected to intensify their campaign efforts to reach undecided voters in the final weeks. Key issues—including energy costs, taxation and abortion rights—are likely to dominate the campaigns’ closing arguments. The tight margin and the influence of national figures like Trump suggest continued national interest as both parties look to gauge voter sentiment ahead of the 2026 midterms.
